I think you're missing the point. I replayed it over Christmas and it has reaffirmed my view that it's MEANT to be slow etc, much of the gameplay genuinely trying to recreate living in the era rather than a constant dopamine hit -- which Rockstar could have done if they wanted to. A lot of the game feels like a moving piece of art than a traditional videogame, the idea is more to get lost in a world and affect the emotional side of your brain rather than entertaining you.
But also very different game worlds. Elden Ring with the by far best world build loot wise and secret wise that you can actually can use for something. Red Dead 2s world is by far the most living close to real breathing world ever made. But that's it.
Why do we keep comparing games to this degree? Besides being open world these 2 are not at all the same. They both are amazing games that have totally different goals they are trying to achieve.
RDR2 is a gorgeous realistic world but I found it a bit boring. Elden ring was like exploring a fantasy world of Tolkien books. I had a LOT more fun with Elden Ring but as far a sheer realism and details I think RDR2 wins. Art design and awe, Elden Ring.
Elden Ring IMO. Though RDR2 is a magnificent game story-wise, the world is flat, meaning one level. Not many deep caverns to explore such as mining shafts with activities tied to exploration outside of core activities. No mini-bosses or surprise encounters with memorable, sweat inducing, challenges that reward you with powerful items that make you feel like you actually earned it. The world of ER may not be as pretty from a textures and resolution standpoint but they are much more magical, exploratory, and pack much more of a punch as you explore. Both are classics but ER wins this one for me.
To me Elden Ring had a much more interesting and mysterious world that made me want to fully explore it and its art style was more pleasing to my eyes than the superior graphical fidelity of the RDR2. Having said that on a technical level, attention to detail and physics system RDR2 is undeniably superior but as a whole I still prefer Elden Ring's world.
Both open worlds were designed far differently from each other for different reasons. Sometimes even the simple aspect of being an open world is too varied to properly compare one from another.
Still playing red dead 2 in 2023 that in my opinion was OG rockstars farewell it was a helluva dope one too if today’s rockstar try to come back swingin like the past known staff they better come back swingin hard mane I’m talkin interactive world, they basically gotta revive gta back cause nowadays they think online is what made gta a beloved series smh I might give elden ring a shot I’m just not into the raging shit while gaming i game to enjoy myself not go berserk lol
RDR2 got way closer to the real thing than any other game. The amount and complexity of systems that work flawlessly together to achieve that is bonkers. Elden Ring is nowhere near that. For me, ER has nicely designed gameplay space, and that's about it for the world. Like their previous games.
You have to be brain dead to pick Elden Ring over RDR 2 because the world was more alive ... IN A FANTASY ACTION GAME. Obviously RDR2 pushed boundaries that have yet to even be approached while Elden Ring was another souls game by FROMSOFTWARE. RDR2 made you feel and be one with the world, while Elden Ring was a just a pretty action open world game.
It is easy to create a not authentic, fantasy based world without many NPC interactions where all ypu do is spam dodge - dodge - roll hit, unlike creating a Behemoth of a game like RDR2.
Nothing can top RDR2's world. The world itself is the most living breathing world ever made. Only the next Rockstar game would beat it.
For me it's still rdr2
But also very different game worlds. Elden Ring with the by far best world build loot wise and secret wise that you can actually can use for something. Red Dead 2s world is by far the most living close to real breathing world ever made. But that's it.
RDR2 for sure has the 'better' world, but Elden Ring is actually fun to play, and isn't a clunky as hell 'immersion' simulator like RDR2,
I didn't like RDR2 at all so I'm going with Elden Ring which I enjoyed immensely.